Flashlight bulb



July 21, 1942. J. AQUILLA FLASHLIGHT BULB Filed Sept. 13, 1941 m T m V m 12 ATTOR/Vf) Patented July 21, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLASHLIGHT BULB John Aquilla, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application September 13, 1941, Serial No. 410,692

6 Claims.

My invention relates to electric flash-light devices and refers particularly to electric flash-light bulbs in which a plurality of flashes may be obtained from within a single bulb.

The employment of electric flashlights, the bulbs of which contain light generative material, is of very considerable importance in photography, and my invention is directed to flashlights of this character.

One of the objects of my invention is flashlights adapted for photographical purposes in which a plurality of flashes may be obtained from a single bulb.

Another object of my invention is flash-lights in which a succession of flashes may be obtained by the manipulation of a single switch.

Other objects of my invention will be evident upon a consideration of this specification.

The generally employed photo-flash bulb allows of only one flash, after which the bulb must be removed and an unused one inserted.

One disadvantage of these single flash bulbs is that it necessitates the carrying of a bulb for each flash and photographic exposure, thus requiring large and cumbersome bulb containers.

which are frequently inconvenient when a number of flash-lights are desired.

Another serious disadvantage of single flashlight bulbs is that they prevent rapidly following successive photographs of an object owing to the time necessary for removal of the flashed bulb and the insertion of a new one.

The above-mentioned, and other disadvantages of a single flash bulb are eliminated by the flash bulb of my invention, which presents a single flash bulb capable of a plurality of flashes by means of a single switch and without removal of the bulb from its socket.

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of one form of a device of my invention in position for igniting the flash charge in the upper chamber.

Figure 2 is a cross-section through the line 22 of Figure 1.

The elements of the device of my invention adapted to be inserted within the bulb for the accomplishment of a plurality of flashes therein, comprises a supporting member I4, the lower portion of which has an interior upwardly extended recess, with an opening I6 extending through the side thereof, this portion of my device being similar to that usually employed for producing a vacuum within the bulb, or for inserting a desired gas into the bulb.

The upper reduced portion I2 of the supporting member I4 carries an annular member H, the edges of which are bevelled to form, a perfect jointure with the bevelled member I8 of the bulb neck.

A wire I9 connected with the contact 20 of the base member I3, passes through an opening 2I in the supporting member I4 and through an opening 22 in the member I! and terminates in a hook 23.

A resilient wire 24 connnected with the contact 25 of the base member I3 passes through an opening 26 of the supporting member I4, and through an opening 21 in the member I1 and terminates in a hook 28.

The terminals 23 and 28 of the wires I9 and 24 are connected by a thin fusible wire 29.

A wire 30 is carried by the supporting member I4, the lower end 3i of which extends outwardly from the supporting member I4 and the upper portion of which extends vertically from the member I'I, thence outwardly 32, terminating in the hook 33.

The hook 33 is so positioned that it does not contact the Wire 24 when the wire 29 is in place.

A thin fusible wire 34 is soldered, or otherwise aifixed to the wire 32 at 3I and the wire I9.

The wires I9 and I2 fit tightly within the openings in the members I1 and I2 respectively through which they pass, so that when the device is in the condition shown, the two chambers I0 and II are hermetically sealed from each other thus forming two independent chambers.

Both chambers II] and II contain a quantity of a combustible material 35 as foil aluminum or magnesium, and the bulbs contain a gas capable of supporting combustion.

I have shown the partition disc IT as being integral with the supporting member I4, but it may be a separate unit properly attached to the supporting member I4 in which event these two elements may be of difierent material.

It is evident that the composition of the disc I! should be of such material to prevent, as much as possible, the transmission of the heat and light generated in one chamber into the other chamber, and I have found that glass, plastics, and asbestos are adaptable for this purpose.

It is further evident that the shape of the bulb may be varied from the particular one shown in the drawings without departing from the scope of my invention.

The operation of the described device is as follows:

Figure 1 illustrates the commercial article. When it is inserted within the ordinary electric light socket and the current completed and immediately broken by means of a switch not shown, or otherwise, the circuit will consist of the wires 24, 29 and [9, the current will immediately heat the wire 29, causing the ignition of the material 35 in the chamber and at the same time fusing the wire 29.

The fusing of the Wire 29 will allow the upper portion of the resilient wire 24 to assume the position shown in Figure 2, with the wires 24 and the end 33 of the Wire 39 in contact.

If the current circuit be closed by means of the switch, the circuit will consist of the wires I9, 34, 3t and 24, and the current will heat the wire 34, causing the ignition of the material 35 in the chamber II and at the same time will fuse the wire 34, although in this case, the wire need not be of such a character as to fuse under the produced heat.

It will thus be noted that my invention pre sents flash-lights comprising bulbs carrying devices of such construction as to allow of a plurality of successive flashes.

It is evident that various changes and modifications can be made in the particular form of device shown and described without going beyond the scope of my invention, and, hence, I do not limit myself to the particular size, shape, number, arrangement or material of parts as shown and described, as these are given solely for the purpose of describing my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A flash light device comprising a light impervious bulb having a plurality of enclosed chambers therein, a fitting carried by said bulb adapted for insertion within an electric light socket, a flash light charge within each said chamber, a closed electric transmitting circuit within a single said chamber connecting the interior of said single chamber with said fitting, an open electric transmitting circuit within a second said chamber connecting the interior of said second chamber with said fitting and means whereby the flashing of said flash-light charge in said first chamber will close said circuit in said second chamber.

2. A flash light device comprising a light impervious bulb having a plurality of enclosed chambers therein, a fitting carried bysaid bulb adapted for insertion within an electric light socket, a flash light charge within each said chamber, a closed electric transmitting circuit within a single said chamber connecting the interior of said single chamber with said fitting, an open electric transmitting circuit within a second said chamber connecting the interior of said second chamber with said fitting and means whereby the opening of said closed electric transmitting circuit in said first chamber will close said circuit in said second chamber.

3. A flash light device comprising a light impervious bulb having a plurality of enclosed chambers therein, a fitting carried by said bulb adapted for insertion within an electric light socket, a flash light charge within each said chamber, a closed electric transmitting circuit within a single said chamber connecting the interior of said single chamber with said fitting, an open electric transmitting circuit within a second said chamber connecting the interior of said second chamber with said fitting and means whereby the opening of said closed electric transmitting circuit in said first chamber will resiliently close said circuit in said second chamber.

4. A flash light device comprising a light impervious bulb having a plurality of enclosed chambers therein, a fitting carried by said bulb adapted for insertion within an electric light socket, a flash light charge within each said chamber, a closed electric transmitting circuit within a single said chamber connecting the interior of said single chamber with said fitting, an open electric transmitting circuit within a second said chamber connecting the interior of said second chamber with said fitting and means whereby the flashing of said flash-light charge in said first chamber will resiliently close said circuit in said second chamber, said successive flashes being accomplished without removing said fitting from said socket.

5. A flash light device comprising a light impervious bulb having a plurality of enclosed chambers therein, a fitting carried by said bulb adapted for insertion within an electric light socket, a flash light charge within each said chamber, a closed electric transmitting circuit within a single said chamber connecting the interior of said singl chamber with said fitting, an open electric transmitting circuit within a second said chamber connecting the interior of said second chamber with said fitting, means whereby the flashing of said flash-light charge in said first chamber will close said circuit in said second chamber and means whereby the flashing of said flash-light charges can be accomplished by an externally positioned two-Way switch.

6. A flash light device comprising a light impervious bulb having a plurality of enclosed chambers therein, a fitting carried by said bulb adapted for insertion within an electric light socket, a flash light charge within each said chamber, a closed electric transmitting circuit within a single said chamber connecting the interior of said single chamber with said fitting, an open electric transmitting circuit within a second said chamber connecting the interior of said second chamber with said fitting, means whereby the opening of said closed electric transmitting circuit in said first chamber will close said circuit in said second chamber and means whereby the opening and closing of said circuits can be accomplished by an externally positioned two-way switch.

JOHN AQUILLA. 

